I have owned three Honda Fits, and the things just look naked without the rear wing that came standard on the Sport model. Admit it, these things are often merely a “looks cool” appearance add. Does a 117-horsepower 2009 Honda Fit really need added downforce?
I was thinking about wings when I saw the humongous example on the new electric Jeep Wagoneer S, recently launched in San Diego. Vince Galante, the design vice president with responsibility for Wagoneer S exterior styling, discussed the wing during the press conference. “The boxy Jeep profile is not the most aerodynamic thing,” he said. “We used a floating wing at the back, unique to the S, and achieved a drag coefficient of 0.29, making it the most aerodynamic Jeep ever.”
The prominent wing was shaped in a new $29.5 million wind tunnel. The wing functions as part of a team. A subtle rear liftgate spoiler above the Jeep badge, as well as the roof, were angled to minimize air turbulence. Flush pocket door handles and integrated fins guide air around the car. The S also gets underbody shields, front tire spats, and side sills to reduce drag around the wheels.
“The wing first appeared in a sketch of the Wagoneer S, just the hint of it,” Galante continued. “We weren’t sure the wing would work, but the wind tunnel confirmed it functioned well with the tapered shape of the roof we needed. Then engineering said to put three times as much space between the glass and the wing. It’s now an eight- or nine-inch gap. What we ended up with is pretty unique.” The Jeep’s wing works by managing and guiding the air from the back of the car into the gap between itself and the back window, reducing turbulence.
The molded plastic wing is not designed to rise with set speeds like the active units on some supercars. Instead, the rigid, fixed-position wing is attached to the D-pillar. The wing has to be rigid, because it houses the subject-to-jiggle camera for the digital rearview mirror. In addition to its functional benefits, the wing improves the Jeep’s side profile. From any angle, it suggests an EV that can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
Still, it’s not as cool as my favorite wing, on the 1973 to 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.” There were civilian and racing versions of this car, and they both had a massive wing consisting of two uprights that looked like airplane tailfins connected by a big bar. It was functional, too, putting down nearly 200 pounds of downforce at 124 mph. BMW coupes of this period were gorgeous to begin with, and the wing stands to toughen ‘em up a bit. This is not the “Little Wing” Jimi Hendrix sang about.
So what’s your favorite wing – and is your preference for form or functionality?
Top graphic: Bring a Trailer
Typically? Chicken
Automotive? Probably the Ferrari F40 or the wild active wing on the Koenigsegg One:1
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 for Sale at Auction – Mecum Auctions
This one
Classic choice – 1959 Impala with the sideways wings with the cat eye taillights. Yeah, it’s really actually “fins” than wings, but still a looker.
Though that BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.” in the article is pretty sweet and scratches my old German car itch. Alas, waaaaay out of my price range.
The Porsche whale tail is pretty memorable as well.
1969-1972 Olds W-35 rear spoiler. Good for 60lb downforce at 100MPH. It’s there, but not over the top, like the hood scoops on 1970-72 W cars like the 442, Hurst Olds, and Ralleye 350.
Favorite wings in order:
– Gull
– Black
– Gold
Gotta be the giant wing on the Charger Daytona/Plymouth Superbird!
The Ferrari 328 (and some people put them on 308s) had a wing behind the roof not to help with downforce but to direct air over the engine vents. It’s barely noticeable in profile (although it’s usually black in contrast with the body color) but it’s got a neat function.
In times like these, we need pics in the comments….
Agree with all the xr4ti comments, and I also like the the crx sir wing and am fond of a duckbill on an eg for some reason.
From the factory, I like the Mercury XR4TI double wing.
For aftermarket wings I like the biggest wing available from Pep Boys installed backwards on a Corolla.
1,776mm.
An American size on a pure American SuperSports car.
The last ACR Viper definitely has my favorite wing.
Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Came to find this.
Honorable mention. 80/90s GM with a wing and luggage rack (think Olds Cutlass Ciera)
This is a great call – kinda sporty, kinda practical, rolled into one.
The 1970 Plymouth Superbird.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Superbird
Absolutely. The wing on the 1970 Plymouth Superbird is the wing all other wings aspire to be. Might even be the original hot wing.
Countach. I don’t care if it didn’t work.
Super Bird, obviously. I’ll accept the sill big WRX STI wing.
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth or Escort RS Cosworth rear wings. Seeing those unique cars drive around as a kid, they were crazy compared to the more conservative cars of the time.
I came here to say exactly this.
I do love the wing on the Wagoneer S. It makes an otherwise completely unremarkable SUV interesting.
Otherwise the swan neck on the GT3 RS is pretty unbeatable.
Pontiac TransAm. Because of Bo Darville
Tough question, I would have to say the Nissan Silvia S15 wing.
When can we start posting gif?
Can we promise to agree to only post car relevant pictures and not memes? Maybe they’ll enable images if we do.
Batmobile wing everyone else is not a car person if you don’t agree.
The only correct answer here is the 2008 Prius’s rear wing. It is a very practical design, with great styling but also conserving rear vision.
A close second is the Aztec’s wing.
It’s not a wing, but whatever that thing is on the 2010 Prius that gets in the way of the headlight of cars behind you is great. If my next car doesn’t have that, I’m putting a piece of tape on the rear window in the same place.
Aftermarket Wangan wing, on the back of an S13 hatchback, or better even, specifically on the back of a Sil80
911 ducktail. Does a tail count as a wing? I’m saying yes.
This is the correct answer. I would also accept the Tea Tray for second place.
Exactly this. That look hits for me every time. Doesn’t matter which gen the 911 is. They all look great with the duck tail.
Yes, but not the whaletail. I mean it does an ok job of hiding the fact that the turbo engine doesn’t fit in the 911, but on non-turbos? Ecch!
Duck butts forever.